BOARDMAN — Residents in the Cranberry Run flood plain who have experienced serious flooding issues in past years can be on the lookout for people gathering data to help them.

Jason Loree, Boardman Township administrator, said homeowners in the Cranberry Run flood plain can expect representatives from the ABC district in the near future.

The ABC Water and Stormwater District includes Austintown, Boardman and Canfield, and is funded by taxpayers in those areas.

Once the dates are finalized, Loree said homeowners will be notified. Water district representatives will have identification and safety vests.

“We’re talking about going through the water courses, which will take them through back yards,” Loree said.

Walking the channel along Ewing Road, Forest Lawn and the northern part of Shields Road and Rush Circle, the study will eventually lead to the choke point in Mill Creek Park, Loree said.

“It’s quite a lot of cataloging,” Loree said.

Another way to recognize the water district members, Loree said, is they will have iPads with them to enter data.

“It’s a lot of technical work, but some of the projects associated with the flooding can’t be done if the information isn’t gathered,” Loree said.

Due to language in the Ohio Revised Code, the township is not allowed to spend money on private property improvements, which is why members of the water district will be working on the study, Loree said.

The water district also will begin work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“We’re kind of excited; it’s the first time we can work with them at this level,” he said.

Beginning in June or July, Loree said that the Corps will begin gathering flood-related data, also in the Cranberry Run area.

Data collected by the water district will also be used by the Army Corps, Loree said.

Loree said members of the district decided to contact the Army Corps because projects associated with the flood plain will require permits from the federal agency.

The Army Corps is going to provide up to $100,000 of “match money” for hydrology and master plan services, Loree said.

To do all the work at once, Loree said the cost would be around $3 million to $4 million.

He explained that the master planning will start on the Cranberry Run area, which has three legs where water flows. “(The Army Corps) is going to take one of the legs and help us expedite the planning by providing hydrological planning,” Loree added.

The water district will provide match money for grants, Loree said.

“We are the partner for disaster mitigation funds, getting some properties out of the flood plain,” he said.

Also, some homes will be demolished, restoring the flood plain.

Funding for eight homes in the flood plain has been applied, but only funding for one home has been confirmed, said Marilyn Kenner, Boardman Township road superintendent.

Until funding for the other homes is confirmed, Kenner did not want to release the location of the structures.

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